5 days of Christmas in Africa

Escape the Christmas Turkey. If you are looking for a change this Christmas season, why not turn off the television, kick off the snow boots, pack away the winter woollies, say goodbye to icy grey days and head for the airport. In as little as eight hours you could be in the African sunshine heading for a memorable holiday poles apart from a traditional Christmas. Here’s a sample of some unusual ideas from a selection of our favourite camps to spend Christmas in Africa:

Stay in northern Kenya and swap reindeers for camels or horses and ride through herds of giraffe, zebra and greater kudu. Enjoy a fabulous bush picnic on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River followed by a natural spa mud bath in the river – very good for the skin and free of charge! End the day watching the sunset, a drink in hand, waiting for the stars to fill the African sky.

Visit KwaZulu Natal and attend the Christmas service at Rorke’s Drift, site of the infamous Anglo/Zulu war battles in South Africa. This is a truly unique opportunity to reflect on a piece of extraordinary African history. Take one of the remarkable battlefield tours followed by sunset drinks overlooking the Buffalo River.

Try a spot of water golf on Samatian Island where you will be armed with floating golf balls and can tee off into the lake (all balls retrieved at the end of the game) – a bit more interesting than the local driving range. Children will enjoy the huge water trampoline anchored close to the lake shore and if this doesn’t exhaust everyone, try your hand at lighting the bonfire in the traditional Pokot way by rubbing a couple of sticks together. Sip traditional Kenyan cocktails while waiting for the BBQ to be cooked in front of you.

The Waterberg region, an easy three hour drive from Johannesburg, is home to a handful of superb private game reserves. Pick one of the lovely lodges here and you’ll find Christmas lunch served as a traditional South African BBQ on a beautiful mountain-side perch overlooking the stunning plains below. After an afternoon game drive or horse ride meet for sundowners as the local choir serenade you.

If you must have turkey, how about having it delivered by canoe to a candle lit sampan floating on the great Zambezi River or on your own private sandbank beach? This special treat can be arranged in several secluded spots just upstream from Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, over Christmas in Zambia.

Richard Smith is Operations Director at Aardvark Safaris.

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